This Week at Columbia: Events & Opportunities 2/11 - 2/25

Dear Students, 

We hope you can take advantage of some of the events and opportunities below.

University Life Events & Opportunities
All events listed below are in Eastern Time (ET), free, and open to all students across all schools and campuses.

• Cozy Carter: A Celebration of Love & Music (In-Person). Join University Life for a mix of Valentine's Day themes with Beyoncé's Renaissance and Cowboy Carter eras. It's a celebration of love, creativity, empowerment, and the rich aesthetic of Beyoncé's latest music. Think of it as a space for craft-making, delicious treats, and a moment to unwind. This event is part of The Graduate Initiative for Inclusion and Engagement. Wednesday, February 12, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
• Love Your Neighbor Donation Drive (In-Person). New York’s hunger crisis has placed an increasing strain on local food pantries. Stop by the Ford Hall Food Pantry with your donations to support Community Impact’s efforts to help families meet their most immediate needs. Friday, February 14. Learn more.
• Understanding the Legal Landscape for DACA and Undocumented People (Virtual). Join us for a conversation with immigration attorney Dan Berger about the current legal landscape for DACA and undocumented people in the US. Topics will include recent court rulings, policy decisions, and thoughts on what to expect in 2025 and beyond. Monday, February 17, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here.
• Community Connections: BIPOC (In-Person). This event is designed to bring together BIPOC graduate students for a safe space to share experiences, build networks, and support one another. All students welcome. Light refreshments will be provided. This event is part of The Graduate Initiative for Inclusion and Engagement. Wednesday, February 19, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
• Black History Month (BHM) Game Lounge (In-Person). Join this annual celebration of Black-owned and community-favorite games! Enjoy an evening of trivia, board games, card games, great food, and even better vibes. Make new friends, share laughs, and create unforgettable memories. This event is part of The Graduate Initiative for Inclusion and Engagement. Thursday, February 20, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
• CUMBE Dance & Fitness Workshop (In-Person). Get ready to move, sweat, and vibe! Join us for an electrifying dance and fitness workshop with CUMBE: Center for African and Diaspora Dance. This isn’t just a workout — it’s an experience. Expect high-energy moves, rhythmic beats, and a space to celebrate movement, culture, and community! Friday, February 21, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register here.
• Am I Alone or Lonely? Exploring Loneliness and its Impacts (In-Person). Loneliness is more than just a feeling – it can have a significant impact on both individual and population health. Dr. Weiyen Chung will help us unpack this national crisis, understand why we feel loneliness, explore why this matters, and give us tools to combat its impacts on ourselves and our community. Lunch will be provided. Monday, February 24, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here.
• Vibes on College Walk: Performer Application. The Campus Collaborative Fund (CCF) is excited to introduce the College Walk Live Music Series, which aims to turn College Walk into a vibrant performance space, bringing light and energy as we inch closer to the spring. Interested in performing? Apply by February 28!
• Sacred Music Concerts (Hybrid). Join Religious Life’s free, weekly concert series in St. Paul’s Chapel. Learn more and register for an upcoming concert.
• Yoga Class (In-Person). Take a break and relax with yoga in Earl Hall hosted by Religious Life. Please bring your own mat and arrive 10 minutes early to sign in and set up! Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Learn more.

More Events and Opportunities Happening Around Campus

• Sustainability Strategies for Machine Learning and AI: Practical Steps to Reduce Technology’s Carbon Footprint (In-Person). While Machine Learning and AI offer unprecedented opportunities for new insights and applications, they also consume a large amount of energy. This presentation, hosted by the Data Science Institute, will discuss methods to reduce technology’s carbon footprint. TODAY, February 11, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Register here.
• Dr. Charles Drew Black History Month Blood Drive (In-Person). Dr. Charles R. Drew, M.D. (VP&S’40) was the first African American to not only earn a Medical Science doctorate (MSD) from Columbia, but also the first African American to do so in the US. Celebrate Black History Month and save lives by donating blood this month. Morningside: Monday, February 10, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; CUIMC: Wednesday, February 12, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Learn more about eligibility here. Register to donate here.
• Crafts on The Corner: Sketch Sessions (In-Person). The Crafts on the Corner event series provides accessible and free opportunities for the community to explore their artistic potential, enhance crafting skills, and cultivate community through shared creative experiences. Wednesday, February 12, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here. 
• The New Perspectives in Jewish Studies Lecture with Tafat HaCohen-Bick (Hybrid). Join the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies for this lecture entitled Can a Musarnik tell a story? Aesthetics, Musar, and the Birth of Literature. Dr. HaCohen-Bick examines the overlooked intersections between Musar and modern Hebrew literature. Wednesday, February 12, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Register here.
• Global Impact of 2nd Trump Administration’s Economic Policies (Virtual). In this panel discussion, SIPA faculty and experts will dissect the new administration’s trade, fiscal, and energy policies and their ripple effects on the US and the rest of the world. Wednesday, February 12, 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. Register here.
• Identity and Inclusion Series: Identifying Unconscious Bias in Practice (In-Person). This series of interactive diversity and inclusion workshops, hosted by Multicultural Affairs, focuses on building a socially conscious community. The first session offers an overview of unconscious bias, the neural processes that guide our snap judgments. Wednesday, February 12, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register here.
• A Conversation with Isabella Rossellini: Living with, studying, and working with dogs and other animals (In-Person). The Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard hosts actor and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini in conversation with Professor Alexandra Horowitz about living, studying, and working with animals. Wednesday, February 12, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Register here.
• Tamer Fund for Social Ventures Information Session (Virtual). Are you part of a social or environmental venture and looking for funding? Learn more about the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures, which provides the opportunity to receive a seed grant of up to $25,000. Friday, February 14, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here.
• Audre Lorde Week: Free’d Between the Lines (In-Person). Join Multicultural Affairs for their annual celebration of Audre Lorde LS’60. This creative writing space will investigate Lorde’s work among others and will explore how we can use language to both interrogate our current reality while building bridges to a new one. Tuesday, February 18, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register here.

Take care,

Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Ed.D.
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
University Life
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Ixchel Rosal
Senior Associate Vice President for Student Life
University Life
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers